GC1720 Lost all Hydraulics

SteveM70 · Aug 27, 2016

We were brush hogging a field and the hose with the quick connect end for the backhoe "the one marked with the blue zip tie" that connects to the blue and yellow marked hose, blew. Took hose off, went searching for a replacement with no luck. Seems like know one around is open on Saturday. We came back, put the old hose back on just to see if it could be limped to a better place to be broke down but now have no hydraulics, not even tram. i.e. Forward/Reverse.

Tractor was shut off almost as soon as the hose blew, lost very little fluid. Still full. Was squirting on shutdown so still pumping then but nothing after hooking the hose back up.

Any help appreciated. Tractor is about a mile from a spot it could be loaded onto a trailer through a series of fields and narrow trails.

rider7767 · Aug 27, 2016

It has very little fluid to begin with. It only takes a short time to loose enough to impact system operation. I would start with repairing the hose and checking the fluid level. If I am right, that line is before your transmission. If it is leaking nothing else works. It's hydraulic pump runs every thing. I will check my hydraulic schematics when I get home.

SteveM70 · Aug 27, 2016

Thanks for the reply. Sight glass is showing full but it is leaning slightly in a favorible direction for a false reading. The hose is not even spraying since we put it back on so no pressure to it now.

I hope you are right. Needing fluid would be a much better outcome than other things I've had going through my mind

I suppose I will need to jack the tractor to level in order to varify exactly how much fluid it lost. There is no strange sounds that I can hear like a lock or starving pump.

rider7767 · Aug 28, 2016

I don't think you have hurt anything. Most likely the fluid is low and has sucked air loosing prime. I would repair the hose and add fluid slowly. Start the tractor and idle for a few minutes to allow prime to be gained. Get it back to the shop and top off fluid on level surface.

SteveM70 · Aug 28, 2016

You were right, ofcourse! Low on fluid.. I thought about it after I calmed down and realized that it was the only logical explanation.

Went to the tractor, sight glass still showed full but it took about 4" of jack to level up. Nothing showing in the glass then.

I can't help but think that was easy enough to figure out had it been someone else's tractor lol. I just panicked and imedeatly jumped to thinking worst case scenario.

Again, thanks for the help!